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Red Cross stall on Belmore Road, Randwick for World War I 'Australia Day' fundraiser 30 July 1915

From the collections of the
State Library of New South Wales
[PXA 1324, 17]
(Mitchell Library)

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Recruiting for World War I The Red Cross in Sydney in World War One Women and World War I
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Charity and Philanthropy Social welfare Women World War I
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State Library of New South Wales

Women and World War I

Women played prominent roles in the anti-war, anti-conscription and peace movements in Sydney between 1914 and 1918, lead rallies and demonstrations and addressed outdoor meetings across the country. As sisters, wives and mothers, women were expected to sacrifice their menfolk in the ultimate act of patriotism yet many opposed the war for that very reason. For others it came down to a sense of moral obligation or issues of class and gender.

The Red Cross in Sydney in World War One

A Sydney branch of the British Red Cross was formed in 1913 and it, and a host of new branches, joined the national movement at the outbreak of World War One in August 1914. The earliest activities were training in first aid and home nursing as pre-requisites for membership of Voluntary Aid Detachments. At a local level Red Cross workers undertook sewing, knitting and fundraising, all the while being encouraged to see themselves at 'ministering angels'.

Recruiting for World War I

As the embarkation point for many World War I soldiers, Sydney was a centre for recruiting volunteers from all over New South Wales, and also strongly affected by the bitter conscription referenda campaigns of 1916 and 1917, and the subsequent political fallout.

Charity and Philanthropy

Social welfare

Women

World War I

Randwick

South-eastern, primarily residential suburb. Named after the home town of Simeon Pearce in Gloucestershire, England, it is the location of the Randwick Racecourse and Prince of Wales Hospital.

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Australian Red Cross

Voluntary aid organisation formed as a branch of the British Red Cross in Melbourne in August 1914. It was quickly adopted and established in each state by the wives of each state governor.

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World War I

International war between the Allies (Britain and its dominions, France, Russia, Italy and the USA) and Central Powers (Germany and Austria–Hungary,Turkey and Bulgaria) that was fought mainly in Europe and the Middle East. It began on 28 July 1914 and ended on 11 November 1918. Australia's involvement in the war began on 4 August 1914 when Britain and Germany went to war and Australia, as one of Britain's dominions, pledged full support. Australians fought in the British and Australian armies.

While no battles took place on Australian soil, Australian involvement in the conflict had both immediate and long term impacts on the local community.

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